Eaves-trough guard.



P. M. DEITSCH.

' SAVES TROUGH GUARD.

, APPLIUATION FILED .m1r.29:,1999.

'nuawtoz f'ffm/Mzzzw@ @5% www@ FFIQE.

FRANK IVIA'IHEW DEITSCH, OF COCHRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

nAvEs-TROUGH GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1331391113961l Mal. 15, 1910.

Application led January 29, 1909. Serial No. 474,912.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MATHEW Dnrrsci-I, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cochranton, in the county of Crawford and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvement-s in Faves-TroughGuards, of which the follow* ing is a specification.

This invention relates to eaves trough guards, the object of theinvention being to provide a practical and effective guard forprotecting eave troughs and preventing the accumulation of all kinds ofrefuse in the trough adjacent to the down spout and the consequentchoking up of the spout-and trough and the accumulation and retention ofwater adjacent to the connection between the trough and down spout whichresults in the rapid decay or rusting out and destruction of the partsreferred to.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pivoted and swinginggate or valve which is operated automatically by a current of waterpassing along the trough and which will allow the matter which hasaccumulated in the trough immediately adjacent to the guard, to beflushed out. and to be carried downward through the spout.

To the above end, the invention consists in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings zFigure l is a side elevation of an eavestrough guard embodying the present invention and shown applied. Fig. 2is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection through the same.

Referring to the drawings, l designates an eaves trough provided withthe usual down spout 2. In carrying out the present invention, an archedguard 3 is sprung over the top of a sufficient portion of the gutter ortrough l to protect and cover the down spout connection 2 as clearlyshown in Figs. l and 2. This guard is reticulated and preferablycomposed of mesh wire fabric as indicated in the drawings and issubstantially semi-cylindrical in cross section, having the bottomlongitudinal edges thereof soldered or otherwise fastened to the troughl at opposite sides.

In the preferred form of the guard and strainer 3, the oppositeextremities thereof are reinforced by means of arched supports t of somesuch material as galvanized iron,

said supports being terminally secured to the trough by soldering orotherwise and the opposite extremities of the reticulated guard beingsecured in a suitable manner to said arched supports.

At one end of the guard there is arranged a pivoted and swinging gate orvalve 5 which is of sucient depth vertically to assume an inclinedposition when the bottom free edge thereof is resting in the bottom ofthe trough as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The gate 5 is preferably formedout of a single piece of sheet metal and is hingedly connected at itsupper end to one of the arched supports 4c by any suitable means such asthe rings 6 shown in the drawings. The gate is also apertured at variousplaces as indicated at 7 to allow a certain percentage of the water tofind its way through the gate without lifting the latter.

The arched guard or strainer 3 prevents leaves and the like from gettinginto the down spout connection and also prevents birds from buildingtheir nests in or adjacent to the down spout connection so as to form anobstruction or dam which will ultimately result in the complete chokingup of the down spout. Material collecting in the trough l is held backby the gate or valve 5 until there is a suficient current of waterpassing along the gutter or trough l to operate against the accumulationand force the latter against the gate, whereupon the gate is pushedupward and the accumulation is flushed or swept into the down spout anddischarged therefrom by the weight of the water above the same. When theflow of water ceases, the gate or valve springs downward by gravity andautomatically closes.

I claim l. The combination with an eaves trough, of an arched guardextending over and covering the down spout connection, said guard beingopen at one end, and a swinging gate having a jointed connection at thetop thereof with said guard and normally closing the opening of theguard.

2. The combination with an eaves trough and down spout connection, of asemi-cylindrical combined guard and strainer associated with the troughand arranged over the down spout and open at one end, and an inwardlyinclined gate having a ointed connection at the top thereof with saidguard and adapted to rest at its free edge upon and within said trough.

3. The Combination with an eaves trough,

and the down spout connection thereof, of a semi-cylindrical combinedguard and strainer associated With said trough and arranged over thedown spout and open at one end7 and an apertured gate having a jointedconnection at the top thereof With said guard, said gate inolning inwardand resting at the bottom upon and within the trough. In testimonywhereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

FRANK MATHEV DEITSCH.

Titnesses WILLIAM JANsoN ROCHE, CLARENCE ELLsWoRTrr MoCoNNnLL.

